Guard suspended for bid to smuggle narcotics into jail

15 Mar 201905:29am IST

15 Mar 201905:29am IST

Team Herald

PANJIM: With yet another incident leaving the Prisons Department red-faced, Inspector General of Prisons Rajendra Mirajkar has suspended jail guard Shambhu Naik after the latter was caught in possession of narcotics.

The jail guard was apprehended by police personnel attached with the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) while he was being frisked at Colvale Central Jail on Wednesday evening. Naik who was released on bail on Thursday evening was issued suspension order by Mirajkar after a detailed report from the IRB and First Information Report (FIR) registered against the errant jail guard at Mapusa police station.

The IGP told Herald that as per the IRB report, Naik was initially reluctant to undergo frisking, a mandatory procedure for all those entering the jail premises, whether they are in uniform or they are civilians.

“On being checked, he was found with narcotics wrapped in a transparent plastic bag. He was also reportedly under the influence of alcohol, which was noticed by the personnel frisking him. Naik attempted to escape after being caught. We will not spare anyone involved in illegal activity and as such, he has to face suspension by the department,” Mirajkar said.

In a second incident, another jail personnel Tulsidas Naik has been issued a memorandum for refusing to undergo frisking by the IRB. “We have sought an explanation from (Tulsidas) Naik as to why he did not allow his frisking at the time of joining his shift duty. He returned without attending work,” the officer said.

As per the rules, all personnel in uniform and civilians are frisked before entering the jail premises. The IGP said that several other steps have already been initiated to ensure errant prison personnel do not succeed in smuggling contraband inside the jail and are caught during the thorough checking at the entrance.